Achille Castiglioni, (born Feb. 16, 1918, Milan, Italy—died Dec. 2, 2002, Milan) Italian architect and interior designer who , produced modern furnishings and accessories that were noted for their functional nature and witty styling. After graduating from the Polytechnic Institute of Milan in 1944, Castiglioni went to work with his brothers Livio and Pier Giacomo. Livio quit in 1952, but Achille and Pier Giacomo continued to collaborate. In addition to architectural projects, the brothers created signature interior pieces that included the Mezzadro, a stool topped with a tractor seat, and the Arco lamp, a ball-shaped shade attached to a steel arch, which could replace an overhead light. After Pier Giacomo’s death in 1968, Achille continued as a solo designer and urban planner and taught at his alma mater. Castiglioni won the Golden Compass, Italy’s top prize for industrial design, nine times. In 1997 the Museum of Modern Art in New York City held an exhibition of his work.

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